Key-operated electric switch.



M. GUETT.

KEY OPERATED ELECTRIC SWITQH.

APPLICATlON FILED FEB. 18.1915.

Patented- Sept. 12; 1916.

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UNITED STATES PA ;1

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MONROE GUETT, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HART & I-IEGEMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

KEY-OPERATED ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed February 18, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MONROE Gonr'r, a.

citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Operated Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to key-operated electric switches. I might note at the outset that I employ the term key in a broad sense to include a device thus familiarly known, as well as equivalent parts.

One of the primary purposes of the invention is the provision of effective means, which adds practically nothing to the cost of the switch, by which the actuator thereof and a metal plate or analogous member through which the key is passed, cannot be bridged electrically when said key is employed to effect through said actuator, the operation of the switch.

lVhile the invention is capable of general application, it is particularly but not essentially, intended for incorporation in a push switch.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail several of the convenient forms of embodiment of the invention, which to enable those skilled in the art .to practice the same will be set forth fully in the following description. I do not restrict myself to this particular disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a switch involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail hereinafter more particularly described. Fig. 3 is' a similar view of a modification.

Like characters refer to throughout the several figures.

I have shown my improvement embodied in a push switch. A switch of this type comprises a switch member and an actuator therefor. In the construction shown the actuator is in the form of a rocker which when moved into one position, through the intervention of suitable means, puts the switch on, whereas when the rocker is moved to the other position, the switch will like parts Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 9,050.

be moved to off. As will be inferred I have illustrated my improvement as embodied in or forming part of a switch of this particular character, although as will be apparent from what I have already observed, I do not restrict myself in this particular. IVith the foregoing observations I will now refer more in detail to what I have illustrated.

The different movable parts of the switch are mounted in a suitable casing, that shown comprising the body 2 generally made of porcelain or some other proper insulating material and a finishing or face plate as 3 fastened to said body 2, the latter being in the form of a receptacle and said plate covering the open outer side thereof. In the casing is a metal frame as 4-. which after the usual practice is connected in some convenient manner with the supporting plate or bar 5. Said supporting plate or bar also extends across the open outer side of the receptacle 2, the finishing or face plate 3 overlying said supporting plate 5. The -support-' ing plate as shown is provided with rigid buttons or escutcheon parts 6 having slots 7 shaped to receive the necessary switch operating key 8. The supporting plate or bar 5 is fastened to the body 2 and the buttons 6 thereof extend into holes or perforations 9 in the face or finishing plate 3.

The frame 4 and the parts carried upon it are of very well-known construction and therefore require no detailed description, al though I might allude to the fact that the numeral 10 designates the spindle the latter carrying switch members as 11 and an actuator as 12 for said switch members, said actuator as shown, being in the form of a rocker 12 is oppositely oscillated to secure the successive functions in question by the key 8 which for such purpose is adapted to be passed in alternation throughthe slots 7 in the buttons 6, it beingfei the key 8 is projected throi .ntithat when I ,g one slot and its thrust applied to the-actuator 12 at one side of the center of movement of the latter,

said actuator will be caused to move in one direction, whereas if said key be passed through the other slot and its effect be applied to the actuator at the other side of said center, the opposite effect will be obtained.

Frequently the insulation between some of the parts mounted on the frame 4 will be broken down, in which event or from other causes there will be when the metal key 8 is inserted through one of the slots 9 and brought 'into engagement with the actuator 12, abridge between the actuator and the plate 5 and contacting plate 3 by way of the metal key 8, and my fundamental purpose is to prevent positively this condition which can be excellently obtained by insulating the key or operating member 8 from the actuator 12, and this result can be as will be understood, accomplished, in a variety of different ways, although I haveshown two by which it can be efliciently secured and in' both of these and, the others which I have in mind, but which I have not shown, the key can mechanically properly operate the actuator, but will be insulated therefrom.

The actuator 12 has two key-engageable portions which may take the form of projections designated in a general way by 13 and located at opposite sides .of the axis of oscillation of the actuator or rocker 12. As both projections are the same in construction, a detailed description of one will apply to the other. Each projection has a core member as 14 usually consisting of a metal pin and shown as practically cylindrical in form, the inner end of the core member being driven or otherwise fitted into a hole or perforation in the actuator or rocker 13 and said core member having an annular flange 15 adapted to abut fiatwise against the outer face of the rocker 12. Around the outer projecting portion of the core 14 is a band or ring 16' of insulating material such as fiber, and at oppositesides of the band or ring are duplicate disks as 17 also of insulating material such as fiber, the disks eing of greater diameter than the band or ring and the three present a grooved insulator. The purpose of this groove will be hereinafter explained. The inner of the two disks abuts against the flange or rigid collar 15 while the outer bears against the washer 18, the washer, the' two disks and band being clamped solidly against the flange 15 by the head 19 at the outer end of the core member 14. It is into the groove presented by the three sections of the insulator that the key is introduced and by-flaring the disks outwardly as shown, it will be clear that the walls of the groove of the insulator are so shaped as to accurately guide the key toward the key engageable portion of the particular projection which is to be operated by said key. Surrounding the band 16 is a metal ring 20 constituting a suitable reinforcing member and it is against this ring,-that the thrust of the key is applied, by virtue of which the key does not come into direct contact with the insulating material, as if it did, there would be a tendency to break such material. It may, therefore, be considered that the active portion of the respective projections 13 or that part thereof which is directly engaged. by the key is harder than the insulation so as to reinforce or strengthen the projections.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slightly 'difierent construction which I will now describe. In this form the actuator 21 has a hole or perforation 22 to receive the insulating ring 23 through which is passed the shank portion of the stud 24, the head 25 of which as shown is peripherally grooved and adapted to engagement by the key. Between the head 25 and the actuator is an insulating washer 26 surrounding the shank portion of the stud 24. At the opposite side of the actuator and surrounding said shank portion is a practically similar insulating washer 27 also surrounding said shank portion, the latter being also enc rcled by the metal washer 28, the several parts being held assembled by heading over as at 29 the shank portion of the stud 24% against the washer 28. I have described the stud and its adjuncts at one side of the rocker 21. It will be clear that these parts are duplicated at the other side of said.

actuator or rocker.

It will be clear from the foregoing description that my switch comprises a switch or bar acts conveniently as such a barrier;

that is to say said plate or bar or it might be the finishing or face plate 3 serves to prevent access to the switch actuator in any other manner than by a key.

What I claim is:

1. A key-operated switch comprising a metallic key operated switch actuator to be moved to on andoffpositions by a metallic key, a member of conducting material, barring access to the actuator and having an opening for the passage of the key, and a member mounted on the actuator, adapted. to be engaged by the key and to prevent electrical. connection between the actuator and said barring member when the key is in actuator operating relation.

2. A key-operated switch comprising akeyoperated oscillatory switch-actuator having a perforation, a stud in said perforation provided with a head. at itsrear end, and a-key engageable head at its front, end, an insulating Washer surrounding the stud and engaging the Wall of said perforation, insulating Washers engaging opposite faces of the actuator, one insulating Washer lying against the forward head of the stud, and a metallic washer between the other insulating Washer and the rear head of the stud.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MONROE GUETT.

/Vitnessesz EDWIN E. SAGE, ADA J. CORNWALL. 

